Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for responding on the issue of workers' rights at RTÉ. Indeed, there are very serious issues for workers at levels below those top management levels at RTÉ. Trevor Keegan, chair of the National Union of Journalists, NUJ, group at RTÉ said today that the impending redundancies at RTÉ loom large and that the prospect is impacting morale among staff at all levels below top management. The Tánaiste is right about that. When will we see results? When will we see an outcome from the Minister's review? When will we see actual improvement in conditions for those who are currently on those bogus self-employed contracts, those who are incorrectly being described by RTÉ as contractors when they are actually staff? When will see certainty and clarity for staff on their future? That relies on a future funding model and we have not got clarity from the Government in that regard.

The Tánaiste has said he wants transparency and accountability around past conduct and payments made to those at the top. We still have a real lack of information and clarity about the payments made to others, beyond Breda O'Keeffe. Kevin Bakhurst took up his position on Monday, 10 July. Rory Coveney announced his resignation on Sunday, 9 July.

We still have no clarity about exit payments in this regard, nor about exit payments to others at the top level in RTÉ. We need to know from the Government what it is going to do about it.

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